Mozart was just three when he mastered the harpsichord, while Pablo Picasso completed his first painting – Le Picador – by the age of nine. Meanwhile, American child prodigy Michael Kearney spoke his first words after passing the four-month mark. However, if your child hasn’t said anything else apart from ‘mummy’ or ‘daddy’ or if junior’s speeches are almost inaudible, there really is no cause to fret. There are places to overcome these little issues and help your child communicate effectively.

Speech and drama is the perfect medium through which students can help express themselves with confidence, explore their imaginations and present their ideas and opinions.

It develops children’s creativity, apart from confidence, as well as encourages strong communication skills, allowing them to use language as a tool for expression. As a child develops and strengthens these skills, it will come in handy sooner or later as it is transferable into his or her daily lives.

Below are four places that offer speech and drama programmes or workshops that might prove to be a helping hand:

Lorna Whiston

This centre prides on enriching a child’s vocabulary and speaking skills in four main areas: vocal and physical development, communication, fluency and presentation. Students participate in a variety of age appropriate activities, including drama games, discussions, movement and voice exercises, improvisations, play building and performances.

The speech and drama programmes are split between the ages of 4 – 6 and 7 – 10. For those between the ages of 4 and 6, classes are conducted using oral activities such as drama, phonics, enacted stories, rhymes and songs to deliver meaningful and interactive experiences. At the end of every lesson, parents receive follow up activity ideas to develop their child’s awareness of sounds targeted in class and to help build oral language skills. Apart from that, children also recite rhymes and poems, articulate speech sounds fully and use their oral language skills to solve problems posed by role-play adventures.

As for those between the ages of 7 and 10, they are given activities involving teamwork. Dramas and presentations take the center stage as they go through techniques such as flashback and thought-tracking. Students are given a slightly more in-depth education on puppetry skills and learn to vary their voice for greater expression and to control the pace at which they speak. Classes become more sophisticated between the ages of 9 and 10 when speech techniques such as emphasis and pitch are taught as well as how to structure presentations with more logic. Students are also encouraged to write short scripts.

Address and Contact Details:

Taman Tun Dr Ismail Centre

Units 8 & 10, Jalan Wan Kadir 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,

60000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-7727 1909

Email: ttdi@lornawhiston.com.my

British Council

At the British Council, there are English communication lessons for children from the age of five. The primary programme is a five-level series of courses which aims to develop young children’s confidence in communicating in English while facilitating developments towards becoming well-rounded individuals. The course applies to those between the ages of 5 and 9.

For those between 10 and 12, apart from learning through age-appropriate themes and topics that match with the child’s development stages, they will be better prepared for English at school level, express ideas more clearly and develop basic social skills.

Address and Contact Details:

KL Branch

Ground Floor, West Block,

Wisma Selangor Dredging,

142C Jalan Ampang,

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Mutiara Damansara Branch

Lot 245A, Second Floor, the Curve, 2 Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tel: 03-2723 7900

Email: info@britishcouncil.org.my

Penang Branch

Wisma Great Eastern, Suite 3A.1 & 3A.2,

25 Light Street, 10200 Penang

Tel: 04-255 9000

Email: penang@britishcouncil.org.my

Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)

Scroll through The Actors Studio Academy on the KLPAC website and you would be able to choose a workshop or boot camp that would suit your child’s needs. One of those programmes is the speech and drama holiday boot camp that is usually organised at the middle of the year.

The five-day course comprises theatre games, role playing and a workshop performance to stimulate a child’s creative and intuitive thinking, performance and critical thinking. Apart from that, there is also an intensive creative arts programme for children between the ages of 3 and 6. The one week-long programme consists of a series of fun-filled, exploratory, theatre-based activities and games to nurture self-development by tapping into their creativity. Lessons will include drama, singing, dance and arts & crafts.

Address and Contact Details:

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre,

Sentul Park,

Jalan Strachan

51000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-4047 9063

Julia Gabriel Centre

At this centre, apart from enriching your child’s communication skills, the speech and drama programmes prepare your child for the Trinity College London Speech Communication Arts syllabus.

Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are taught to speak with actions, using stories, music, props and characters as resource tools while a selected collection of literature enables them to develop their use of language in stimulating yet natural settings. Children are encouraged and motivated to develop inquiry-based learning as independence is nurtured in fun and friendly environments.

Those between 4 and 6 are given the opportunity to develop self-awareness and understanding of their own abilities through stories and also encouraged to work towards the college’s Young Performers Certificate while the 6 to 8-year-olds work towards Level 1 and 2 of the college’s Speech Communication Arts syllabus.

Upper primary children, which are those between 9 and 12, are guided to master critical thinking skills and confidence to express ideas in formal and informal situations. Students work towards Levels 3-6 of the Arts syllabus which focus on developing expressive communication and confidence in public speaking.

Studying the syllabus isn’t the only notion at this centre as students develop their public speaking skills by planning and delivering presentations, criticizing and reviewing books, and narrating stories.

Address and Contact Details:

KL Branch

123, Jalan Bukit Pantai,

59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2095 5500

PJ Branch

R-02A, 3rd Floor, Citta Mall 1,

Jalan PJU 1A/48, Ara Damansara,

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tel: 03-7832 2233

Email: enquiries@juliagabriel.com